If it were possible, Virender Sehwag would have gone from 94 Tests to 100 in one match. That's what he usually wants to do once he reaches 94 in a Test innings. Even if it means risking getting stumped on 99 to a debutant spinner. If he had hit a six of caps when 94 not out, Sehwag fans - and I am one of them - would have been able to stop facts from coming in the way of a good story.

Those facts that were driven home during his struggles in Australia. Hard as you tried, you couldn't live in denial and shrug it off by saying, "That's the way he plays." There, he even tried to buckle down for the team's good but was simply not good enough. Against the moving, bouncing new ball, his minimal footwork proved inadequate. The bowlers no longer feared bowling to him, especially if they could get it to rise rib high or move after pitching. With every confused dismissal, Sehwag reminded you he had gone from Adelaide to Adelaide without a century outside Asia in four years.

During the same period, though, Sehwag delighted with his dominance in Asia. He scored his second triple-century, in Chennai, plundered 293 of the most delightful runs in Mumbai, 201 of the most difficult ones in Galle, and even Usain-Bolted the record for the highest score in ODIs, a format he has never quite mastered. On numerous other occasions Sehwag stole results from the jaws of draws through his strike-rate in India's first innings. Often he targeted the best bowlers in the opposition so hard he practically eliminated them. To overlook this impact will be to stop facts from coming in the way of a depressing story.

The Sehwag story is anything but depressing. It is, for the most part, one of unabashed joy, of lack of inhibition, of a reminder that nine fielders can cover only so much of the field, of redefining good and bad balls, of playing scarcely believable shots with a bat only whose inside edge is visible to the bowler, of daring left-arm spinners to give up negative tactics with the promise that he will hit them for a six off the first ball they bowl from round the stumps, of pulling through mid-off to counter deep-square fields and short and wide bowling and later saying he can't play boring cricket, of failing when trying to go from 195 to 201 in one hit but still trying it in future at 295, of a reminder that cricket is just a sport after all.

You might look at Sehwag struggling in certain conditions - for just four of his 12 years, lest it be forgotten - and flourishing in certain others (you just can't ignore the number of big centuries he has scored at that strike rate) and call him a product of his times. You couldn't be more wrong.

Sehwag is not a product of his time; his times are a product of him. That's one box ticked for sure on the greatness list. He didn't just redefine opening in Tests, he did so without being an opener by training. You see openers - Watson, Gayle, Dilshan, Warner - trying to intimidate bowlers today. Sehwag started it. And he started it when asked to open the innings because the Indian middle order, his preferred station, was too packed. He gave meaning to the vague term "staying beside the line of the ball". To do it once in a while is okay, but you don't do it with his alarming regularity by fluke. He has scored six centuries at more than a run a ball, and taken three of them past 250. Three of the five fastest double-centuries, and five of the top 10, belong to him. He has done it not through brute strength, but through delightful manipulation of fields.

"You just react to the ball. If the ball is there to be hit, you just hit it. Don't worry that this is a Test or one-dayer or T20. You just hit it. Because it's your routine. You are not worried about 'what if I get out'. You are not worried about a four or a sixer, one or two. You just hit the ball. And enjoy the sound."

Virender Sehwag's take on batting

Sehwag batted as if meditating. "You just react to the ball," he once told me. "If the ball is there to be hit, you just hit it. Don't worry that this is a Test or one-dayer or T20. You just hit it. Because it's your routine. Every time you practise in the nets, you just go and see the ball and hit the ball. You are not worried about 'what if I get out'. You are not worried about a four or a sixer, one or two. You just hit the ball. And enjoy the sound. At the end of the day if you hit the ball or defend the ball, you love the sound that comes when the ball hits the bat."

Sehwag had me by then. As if enlightened, I added: "And that sound won't come when you are leaving the ball…" Like an arithmetic teacher who had just shown me how to add two and two, he smiled benevolently and said: "Exactly."

How simple life would have been if the man who brought us batting nirvana didn't frustrate us so. If he hadn't picked the IPL over Tests in the West Indies and England. This was Dylan gone electric. Perhaps Sehwag thought he could fit it all in. Perhaps he thought he could get the best of both worlds: take the IPL money, play Tests in England and give the West Indies a miss. Perhaps he did become a product of his time after all. He is no god, he is human like all of us. If he did pick money over Tests, perhaps he should be allowed to make all the money he wants. "Don't worry this is Test or one-day or T20," he said, remember?

When it comes to judging greatness, though, history won't be as kind. It will tell you Sehwag had one good tour each of Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand, and followed them up with a bad one to each of those countries. He is a man who made a mockery of statistics but will not be allowed to hide behind them, behind that average of 51 after 99 Tests.

We, though, will rate him by his impact, by his innovation, by his entertainment. Sehwag has brought us all of that, except only in certain conditions over the last third of his career. On the eve of his 100th Test appearance, do we let that last third outside Asia cloud our view of Sehwag? Or do we look beyond the immediate and revel in all the joy he has brought us over the rest of his career? Or do we see his hundred in his 99th Test as yet more proof of his positive attitude, that he can come back from all that and start stealing results from the jaws of draws as if nothing was amiss?

We know what Sehwag would do. Take a deep breath, sing a tune to himself, try to clear his mind of all thoughts, and just see the next ball and hit it. And enjoy the sound.

Is not joy the objective of life, of sport, in this he is a master, he doesnt train hard, he isnt complicated hes like the Osho of cricket. Celebration, Meditation, hes pure andif hes happy who are we to judge, just be grateful for the joy of seeing a natural genius.

khokan1990
on November 23, 2012, 4:30 GMT

He is the one of best player of the world for all format.He is strong and perfect for every format of cricket.I love his batting style and way of thinking.And his main strategy is to increase the score of overal not in individual score.

PHANTOM-X
on November 23, 2012, 4:25 GMT

Sehwag playing 100 test matches is not a big deal...He is a good player NOT a great player...Sachin is the only Great player in this Indian Team...having a 50 average in test match Cricket and a good strike rate doesn't mean he is great...I rate Lakshman more than this guy in Test match Cricket...He has done lot of things to Indian Cricket....

sumonbabu
on November 23, 2012, 4:08 GMT

I don't understand why selectors drop viru when he does fail to to score runs. It happens to everyone. Chris Gayle didn't manage to score three consecutive test innings recently against Bangladesh, you can't drop him from next match against a good team like AUS or SA on the basis of the performance with Bangladesh. Selectors of Indian cricket team should take an advantage over opponent team by using the aggression of viru. Because I believe that no bowlers in world cricket who do not scare to bowl to viru.............. go on viru...........we love uuuuuuuuuuu...............

Agila
on November 23, 2012, 3:24 GMT

@Rohit1964, While I agree with you that Sandip Patil as an explosive batsman, please read the article in the link below, to see what made the difference
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/592138.html

NP_NY
on November 23, 2012, 3:24 GMT

@ Uppercut07: There was K.Srikanth before Jayasuriya and I am sure a few others before him. But no one revolutionaized test batting like Sehwag did and definitely not as effectively. It's all in the simplicity of the mindset (you won't see Sehwag become a politician when he retires :)). And then there is that boring argument people keep making about flat tracks. Who cares? Sehwag is the one of the most effective modern batsmen on flat tracks and simply the most entertaining on all tracks (he has scored centuries in England, Aus, SA and NZ all at an amazing strike rate). I am just thankful he plays for India.

vvsquare
on November 23, 2012, 1:28 GMT

congratulations VIRU for a gr8 career...the man who has revolutionarised test batting....come on viru we are waiting for another triple century...just hit it and let ur critics burn :D

the_blue_android
on November 22, 2012, 23:41 GMT

I wonder if he also enjoyed the sound of leading edge, inside edge and thick edges catches to slips and point in England and Australia.

mannan_ma
on November 22, 2012, 21:48 GMT

Sidharth monga got it right. Sehwag is genius.A genius like no other in the last 10 years.Much of the success that India enjoyed in the last decade is mainly due to the exploits of this man.The success that Tendulkar,Dravid and Laxman enjoyed as batsman and Dhoni as a captain was courtesy this busy batsman.He single handedly destroyed the best bowlers from the opposite teams as an opener so that the others
who followed him in batting order found it easy at the wicket.A case in point is how he destroyed Umar gul in the semi final of the last one day world cup.
Shewag is truly a genius.I would actually put him ahead of even Tendulkar as he has contributed to more victories for India than anybody including Tendulkar.
We can actually prolong his international cricket career if Dhoni and Company accede to his request to play him as a middle order bat.I hope good sense prevails and this genius can enjoy his batting in the middle order.And so we will.l

TheRisingTeam
on November 25, 2012, 14:05 GMT

Sehweg is an ordinary player.

on November 23, 2012, 9:51 GMT

Is not joy the objective of life, of sport, in this he is a master, he doesnt train hard, he isnt complicated hes like the Osho of cricket. Celebration, Meditation, hes pure andif hes happy who are we to judge, just be grateful for the joy of seeing a natural genius.

khokan1990
on November 23, 2012, 4:30 GMT

He is the one of best player of the world for all format.He is strong and perfect for every format of cricket.I love his batting style and way of thinking.And his main strategy is to increase the score of overal not in individual score.

PHANTOM-X
on November 23, 2012, 4:25 GMT

Sehwag playing 100 test matches is not a big deal...He is a good player NOT a great player...Sachin is the only Great player in this Indian Team...having a 50 average in test match Cricket and a good strike rate doesn't mean he is great...I rate Lakshman more than this guy in Test match Cricket...He has done lot of things to Indian Cricket....

sumonbabu
on November 23, 2012, 4:08 GMT

I don't understand why selectors drop viru when he does fail to to score runs. It happens to everyone. Chris Gayle didn't manage to score three consecutive test innings recently against Bangladesh, you can't drop him from next match against a good team like AUS or SA on the basis of the performance with Bangladesh. Selectors of Indian cricket team should take an advantage over opponent team by using the aggression of viru. Because I believe that no bowlers in world cricket who do not scare to bowl to viru.............. go on viru...........we love uuuuuuuuuuu...............

Agila
on November 23, 2012, 3:24 GMT

@Rohit1964, While I agree with you that Sandip Patil as an explosive batsman, please read the article in the link below, to see what made the difference
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/592138.html

NP_NY
on November 23, 2012, 3:24 GMT

@ Uppercut07: There was K.Srikanth before Jayasuriya and I am sure a few others before him. But no one revolutionaized test batting like Sehwag did and definitely not as effectively. It's all in the simplicity of the mindset (you won't see Sehwag become a politician when he retires :)). And then there is that boring argument people keep making about flat tracks. Who cares? Sehwag is the one of the most effective modern batsmen on flat tracks and simply the most entertaining on all tracks (he has scored centuries in England, Aus, SA and NZ all at an amazing strike rate). I am just thankful he plays for India.

vvsquare
on November 23, 2012, 1:28 GMT

congratulations VIRU for a gr8 career...the man who has revolutionarised test batting....come on viru we are waiting for another triple century...just hit it and let ur critics burn :D

the_blue_android
on November 22, 2012, 23:41 GMT

I wonder if he also enjoyed the sound of leading edge, inside edge and thick edges catches to slips and point in England and Australia.

mannan_ma
on November 22, 2012, 21:48 GMT

Sidharth monga got it right. Sehwag is genius.A genius like no other in the last 10 years.Much of the success that India enjoyed in the last decade is mainly due to the exploits of this man.The success that Tendulkar,Dravid and Laxman enjoyed as batsman and Dhoni as a captain was courtesy this busy batsman.He single handedly destroyed the best bowlers from the opposite teams as an opener so that the others
who followed him in batting order found it easy at the wicket.A case in point is how he destroyed Umar gul in the semi final of the last one day world cup.
Shewag is truly a genius.I would actually put him ahead of even Tendulkar as he has contributed to more victories for India than anybody including Tendulkar.
We can actually prolong his international cricket career if Dhoni and Company accede to his request to play him as a middle order bat.I hope good sense prevails and this genius can enjoy his batting in the middle order.And so we will.l

2.14istherunrate
on November 22, 2012, 20:40 GMT

In appreciation of his 100th Test I would say that he should go down as one of the most entertaining batsmen of all time, and out in front of other Indian batsmen I have seen. At first I thought he was a clone of Tendulkar but he's really his own model- total maniac who never moves feet and who is uncompromising in his deadly intent. great player who brings a lot of joy to many, not just in India.

Alexk400
on November 22, 2012, 19:51 GMT

K Srikkanth is the first one not Jayasurya.

Uppercut07
on November 22, 2012, 18:51 GMT

with respect to Sehwag, he was NOT the OPENNER, who revolutionalised 'test openning'!! It was a guy called Jayasuriya!! who started the 'attacking' trend in Test cricket as well. It s true he doesn't have the 50+ average in tests like Sehwag, but Jayasuriya was the TREND-SETTER!

BustIPL
on November 22, 2012, 18:13 GMT

Sehwag is a legend and mostly hits with control. We should let him play his natural game. He plays in the same style in all the three formats and no bowler in the world has totally outclassed him. Sometime when he loses touch does not come with all his energy then bowlers have some good time.

the_blue_android
on November 22, 2012, 17:46 GMT

@ moBlue - Sehwag middles the ball? Other than an odd century or two out of 100 innings, he has done nothing overseas. He's always edging to slips or point because he can lacks the intelligence to do anything else. Did you see him 'middling' the ball in the last 4 years of overseas tests? It's called slogging and even Kamran Akmal can do it. In fact if you check the stats, even guys like Kamran who follow this silly "see the ball, hit the ball" logic have better averages abroad.

gestapo
on November 22, 2012, 16:47 GMT

@ abhishek surana,,agree with u completely. Shane Warne and murali have failed in indian conditions too,,every indian batsman tamed them,,although bowlers like mcgrath and dale steyn did perform admirably well in indian conditions,, that shows their class. I don't understand why the visiting teams complain when they are offered turners and when the ball starts seaming and bouncing from the first ball, they all praise the wickets to glory. Except for the 2004 series that Aus won in India,, no visiting team did well in India in the last 2 decades,,SA always gave a tough fight though. Our 8-0 loss is a shame , agreed. But none of the teams did well here.

on November 22, 2012, 16:25 GMT

@Jose Puliampatta - Jayasuriya-Kalu opening in dat fashion in test matches...??
mate yes they do started using the fielding restrictions of first 15 overs, but please dont say they did in test matches..
Its only sehwag who has redefined Test match opening batsmen, and remember he isnt even a specialist opener.
so chek your stats & memory and come back again..

muthuthewaves
on November 22, 2012, 15:58 GMT

His 4th innings blister in chennai against england in a historic chase is the one best the best innings in test cricket.

Satadru145
on November 22, 2012, 15:44 GMT

"Hit the Ball, Enjoy the Sound." - really the most delightful batsman to emerge out of the modern cricket. The simple fact that he redefined batting in Test cricket through the simplest of the strategies like 'enjoying the game with a pure innocence', as well as the fact that he supplied a fresh flow of oxygen to the Test cricket thus pulling in number of spectators back to the sport, makes him the greatest Test match cricketer for me.

FitzroyMarsupial
on November 22, 2012, 15:20 GMT

The analysis of 'Tiger at home, pussycat abroad' is all a bit too cliched and simplistic. Lazy actually. No doubt Veeru is better on true tracks (who isn't better in their home conditions) but he has had bad runs in Asia, and had excellent innings overseas. He averages c.45 away from home - hardly dismal. His impact is immense - India's short-lived rise to no. 1 coincided with a rich glut of form; their recent horror shows with a very bad trot for VS. Not just in buying time for victories but the 'Sehwag factor' weighs heavily on oppo captains - Graeme Smith delayed a declaration WAY too long in the last Ind tour of SA - openly admitting that he felt he needed to ensure Veeru didn't have the opportunity of making him look stupid.

Yes, he is maddeningly frustrating. But he is also amongst the most entertaining cricketers of all time. See ball, hit ball - shabash Veeru!

screamingeagle
on November 22, 2012, 14:15 GMT

@Stormy, actually it was Srikant who started the opener going crazy attitude. Jayasurya and Sachin came after. As far as Sehwag goes, I loved watching him bat, so did many others. That, I think, is as good as it gets.

on November 22, 2012, 13:55 GMT

if sehwag's runs, scored on sub-continent flat tracks carries less value, then it should also be the case with mc grath's bulk of wickets taken in australian n english conditions. wickets taken by him on subcontinent wickets should be the criteria for measuring his greatness, hayden's highest test score shouldn't be talked about coz it came against zimbabwe in his own backyard. ponting's reputation will erode to just another ordinary batsmen if his scores in sub-continent are take into account. james anderson, tim bresnan, stuart broad will cease to exit if their wickets tally outside of england are considered. so, all u people calling the famed indian batting line up as flat track bullies, u guys need to seriously look at the so called legendary players of your respective countries.

GRVJPR
on November 22, 2012, 13:42 GMT

Different people have different opinions. People talk about different challenges. You have seen the ball swinging in New Zealand and England and bouncing in Australia. South Africa has different kind of wickets. May be that's the reason they don't want the ball to turn

moBlue
on November 22, 2012, 13:34 GMT

it takes brains to analyze sehwag's batting... and some practice actually playing cricket helps as well. sehwag in tests is playing some of the best fast bowlers in the world when he opens and when they open - fresh - with a brand new ball. yet sehwag middles an astonishingly high number of balls! he rarely edges anything - unless he is out! *that* is exceptionally good technique against the moving ball and against exceptionally good fast bowlers! people fixate on sehwag not moving his feet. but his head is so still that he plays audacious creative shots without moving his feet. you never see sehwag shuffling! he knows what he is doing, decides very early, and goes for the shot! *that* is talent!!! he also plays along the ground mostly, drives beautifully in the V, and murders slow balls, all signs of a tremendously talented batter with good hands and terrific eyes and a sharp mind! moreover, he plays defense phenomenally well! he has only failed in 6 tests, people, in ENG and oz- six!

GRVJPR
on November 22, 2012, 13:22 GMT

The writer has missed his most striking aspect , and that is strike rate of over 85. At that strike rate to muster these sort of averages is mighty difficult no matter where the runs are scored. Also about his away average - the averages of Opposition openers is below him in those matches which shows the state of pitches offered to Indian Team, even home openers struggled

GRVJPR
on November 22, 2012, 13:20 GMT

The writer has missed his most striking aspect , and that is strike rate of over 85. At that strike rate to muster these sort of averages is mighty difficult no matter where the runs are scored. Also about his away average - the averages of Opposition openers is below him in those matches which shows the state of pitches offered to Indian Team, even home openers struggled

on November 22, 2012, 13:17 GMT

@Joby_George. Perhaps you didn't know! Sehwag was scoring bucketful of runs so consistently, as a middle order batsman for Delhi, when he was first selected to represent the country. He was NOT just a bowler,who can bat. That description goes well to describe Ashwin. (Frankly Sehwag was shifted to open, after seeing the success of the pyrotechnics of Jayasuriya. Yes, Jayasuriya was a bowler, who can bat, when he started his career. Not Sehwag -- he was essentially an explosive middle order batsman, who can bowl).

on November 22, 2012, 12:58 GMT

I may be wrong, but I think, Jayasuriya -Kalu combo started this so-called Sehwagian type of opening in test matches. Not Sehwag. Not even Gilly! Yes, guys like Gayle, Watson, Warner... followed.

iluvtest
on November 22, 2012, 12:53 GMT

@sweetspot - you summed it up nicely.people tend to think it is cakewalk or something less to score in India.What is preventing them to do it?It is not that they do not know SPIN? England certainly have a class spinner in its ranks almost regularly and the same can be said about almost every team except WI and SA who do not have the luxury. I think it is an attempt to belittle SUB CONTINENT batsmen.

sportofpain
on November 22, 2012, 12:45 GMT

Sehwag: The greatest batsman of the last 50 years!

on November 22, 2012, 12:33 GMT

For an Indian fan what's to watch in a Test(Rankings/FAQ):
1) Sehwag's batting
2) Zaheer or any top bowler bowling fast intimidating the batsman like Ishant did to Ponting and Sreesanth did to Kallis and Boucher and AB devillleirs
3) The excitement of tussle between a match especially in the last innings.

azeesajid
on November 22, 2012, 12:22 GMT

for the kind knowledge of other then asian supporters. Sehwag is a wonderfull player and on his day he does't care much about the condition of pitch whether it is flat or supportive wicket. if flat pitches in india for sehwag are the point of critics then why people do not think that clarke has also made 4 double ton in his own country. So with this logic he also playing at flat pithches. So freinds pitches condition would not impact the greatness of sehwag & neither clarke.

Fast_Track_Bully
on November 22, 2012, 11:58 GMT

@suve. Why you didn't expect him to score a 100 in the last test against England? 100 th test is an achievement and he is far better than some of your batsmen who shiver against spinners. He is gutsy, admit it.

stormy16
on November 22, 2012, 11:39 GMT

"You see openers - Watson, Gayle, Dilshan, Warner - trying to intimidate bowlers today. Sehwag started it" - wrong, Sewag mastered what was started by Jayasuriya and I should add, mastered on flat tracks. Having said that Sewag is something special and his strokeplay is simply amazing and every opposition team meeting will have a lot of time devoted to getting him out. Pretty amazing to end up with an average over 50 after 100 tests when you bat the way Sewag does. Some of you have pointed out that he didnt do too well outside Asia - well he wont be the first or the last and not every visiting batter reels off hundreds in Asia, but the fact is, Sewag is one of a kind batsman. Well we have Warner making a case now and I guess time will tell.

SachinIsTheGreatest
on November 22, 2012, 11:27 GMT

The first sentence is one of the best openings I have read for any article here. Well done Sid Monga! As for the flat track comments from others, I think Sehwag has put EVEN flat tracks in perspective with his magical centuries and kudos to him for doing that!

suve
on November 22, 2012, 11:13 GMT

More like "Miss the ball, Rattle of the Stumps". Has everyone forgot his King Pair in England last Year.

on November 22, 2012, 11:01 GMT

@ Blue Android - I don't mind the talk of whether Sehwag is great or not - or whether he is a flat track bull or not, but your comment that Sehwag has won us just one test is factually incorrect. I can think of many a matches (Multan 04, Galle 08, Mumbai 09, Kolkata 10 are a few that come to mind) where he has been above the rest. Not just his centuries, but also his half centuries (Chennai 08) have dramatically turned games. Its also not his fault if his teammates have not capitalised on his excellent starts (Mohali 05, Melbourne 03, Bangalore 05, Nagpur 10).

sweetspot
on November 22, 2012, 10:52 GMT

@Edassery - Indian cricket will do just fine. Check out the new IPL news of PepsiCo becoming the title sponsor. Dust bowls? When was the last time we got one?

A.Ak
on November 22, 2012, 10:46 GMT

Only very few players are so good to watch. I am glad India had few in this generation. Without doubt Shewag is one of the best entertainer.

on November 22, 2012, 10:44 GMT

Whatever the criticism regarding Viru, I am watching cricket only because of him. He is fabulous player to watch and always like to see him big hundreds, He is one of the entertainer the game ever seen. His fearless approach more matches for us. It is nice to see that me genius playing his 100 th test match and praying for his better success.

on November 22, 2012, 10:30 GMT

the most intimidating batsman in the world...nice article...he plays for the team and not for himself...fearless cricketer...the two most best players Indian cricket has ever had or probably the world...Sehwag and Dravid...his nickname should be Virender 'Dabangg' Sehwag

TRIN999
on November 22, 2012, 10:30 GMT

Stop commenting that he scores only in FlatTracks
This guy got a debut century against SAF in SAF (while pollock and Donald were there,u need to agree they were better than the present)
He scored a blinder against Australia in the 3 rd test match in australia ,he scored England in England also..
Atleast be honest with him.....
Ricky ponting only scored 1 test century against India does that indicate he is a poor test batsman and dint even won a single match in India as Captain does it make him a poor captain ...no right..............

Naresh28
on November 22, 2012, 10:28 GMT

@blue android - one game? Obviously you only know about 2011 when the whole
Indian team failed. Edassery - you should play instead of Shewag. You also only
know about 2011 only. For shewag age he has done better than most. It takes
two teams to tango on a flat pitch. Old Sachin, Shewag, Laxman, Dravid, Ganguly
- to name just a few have scored all over the world. 19yr old Chand won the u19
w/c in Oz just recently through great batting. His not even in this team yet.
Pujara has scored against new WI quicks in WI. Sachin had the highest runs
in 2003 WC in SA. Please use cricinfo and dig up stats its only there for u.

Joby_George
on November 22, 2012, 10:23 GMT

I dont think that sehwag and Dhoni were great players before they started their career for India. It should be admitted that along with caliber, LUCK also plays a major role. Sehwag came as a bowler who can bat and now he holds the record of highest scorer in ODI's. And LUCK favored Dhoni more than anyone.

sweetspot
on November 22, 2012, 10:15 GMT

I always wonder why so many accomplished non subcontinent batsmen struggle to score on these so called "flat" pitches, and their incredible, menacing fast bowlers have no impact on subcontinent batsmen while playing here. If anything, batsmen brought up on such "demanding" surfaces should be able to score at 200 strike rate in the subcontinent, right? I can understand bowlers becoming useless when conditions do not favour them, but what is stopping batsmen from blossoming and making their riches? Oh, wait a minute! Did someone say "spin"?

Rahul_Paharia
on November 22, 2012, 10:10 GMT

One of the best articles on Sehwag that I have read! Other was by Mukul Kesavan some time back on cricinfo. Nice to read positive things about the great man after all the negativity surrounding him over the last few days.

Edassery
on November 22, 2012, 10:03 GMT

@SHASHANK, You must have noticed how well Australia and South Africa are scoring in FLAT pitches in the current series. Both Brisbane and Adelaide sported flat pitches BUT they have consistent and predictable bounce. What's the case in India? The curators selectively make dust bowls that won't pass even three days. On top of that, they make selective patches good for Indian bowlers. Only those who have played galli cricket and the same on wheat and paddy fields will survive in such pitches. This won't do any good to Indian cricket. Our game is batsmen centric and we are even BIG let down for our own bowling force - We are just injuring them. Indian cricket will not survive unless we groom people who can be successful all around the world.

on November 22, 2012, 9:57 GMT

Totally agree with you sanjaycricfan. Allowing foreign players in Ranji or Indian Domestic Cricket and let Indians play in County or Shield Cricket will do a lot to the sport.

on November 22, 2012, 9:47 GMT

Dear Mr EDASSERY - Why is it that on FLAT PITCHES every foreign palyer does not score a century, but rather the foreign teams loose on those very FLAT PITCHES. Why did England /Australia/ South Africa perform so badly on the FLAT PITCHES. It would be good to know.

mnkgpt
on November 22, 2012, 9:30 GMT

awesome sehwag is the real defination of cricket in all formats especially in tests.. He changed the mind of batsman in test cricket so now tests are more entertaining and having more possibility of result... Hats off for VIRU..

Arpra
on November 22, 2012, 9:07 GMT

Outstanding piece Sid......

Rohit1964
on November 22, 2012, 9:07 GMT

Don't forget Sandip Patil. He had far more talent, class and elegance than Sehwag can ever imagine to have. It's just that he succumbed to the wishes of the team management and selectors, who screwed up his career by curbing his natural stroke-play. If you don't believe me, ask Bob Willis.

Edassery
on November 22, 2012, 9:03 GMT

Hit the ball, Enjoy the sound on Flat wickets
Hit the deck, Rattle the sticks on Sporty wickets

Come on, give us a break! Aren't we done with this over-praising business of our flat pitch heroes? Suddenly they have become super heroes while not so long ago in England, Australia test series and in Champions trophy in SA, they were all pathetic!

satya_vankayala
on November 22, 2012, 8:51 GMT

i am a great fan of sehwag, and his raw trust in his own abilities, he is self less , not ambitious, fearless, that is why he can hit the ball as he pleases without fearing the loss of wicket or loss of the match , or loss of his position in team, or loss of tripple hundred, that is waht makes him a great soul

nice article siddharth

on November 22, 2012, 8:46 GMT

he is the best to watch when he is in true color. England must be worried about his return form in this series and if they allow him for the 1st session at Wankade than there will be another ton coming up! good luck Viru!!!!!!

sanjaycrickfan
on November 22, 2012, 8:36 GMT

Sehwag is fantastic in the sub continent and also overseas where there is bounce. Its seam movement and swing that he has a problem against because he doesnt have experience playing in those conditions.

If Indian players can take some time off to play some county cricket every year, then that will be helpful in making them all round batsmen who can play well in all conditions. In exchange, India should also allow players from England, SA, Aus to play in Ranji trophy so they get used to our conditions. It will make for better contests than one sided games where home team always wins.

Nivas_Shanmugam
on November 22, 2012, 8:33 GMT

He is Brave man... He never afraid about bowlers..Even he is World No.1... That is the Big Big Positive attitude of him...:)

on November 22, 2012, 8:28 GMT

Amazing first line is enough to describe Sehwag's greatness as a modern day hard hitting batsman!!

on November 22, 2012, 8:20 GMT

I recommended this article after reading the first line! :)

Chaitanya82
on November 22, 2012, 8:19 GMT

Viru is one batsman who doesn't care who the opposition is, what the pitch conditions are and most importantly creates this fear factor for the opposition as he is one of the few players in test cricket who can change the situation of the game at any moment in short time...All the best Viru, hope you entertain the crowds as you have always done and make a 100 in your 100th test match like you made one on your debut.

ramli
on November 22, 2012, 8:17 GMT

True ... the impact of his contribution on the team's result is phenomenal ... whenever he bats well, India ends doing well ... we can choose to remember only the good ones ... but ... more than his failures on the ground, it is his faking the fitness level prior to T20I in 2009 that caused untold misery to team prospects and his preference of IPL over country duty will always remain as black mark whenever he ends his career

SaurabhDutt
on November 22, 2012, 8:14 GMT

He just started it in test cricket.Prior to him there were Viv Richards,Afridis,Jayasuryas in shorter format.But,still he is most consistent with this art.He is a true entertainer.After Sachin, Indian crowds cheer his appearence the most.

on November 22, 2012, 8:14 GMT

He is a True legend.Sometimes Stats can be only numbers but a True sports man can be remembered for ever!!!!

Buggsy
on November 22, 2012, 8:08 GMT

So Sehwag has had a bit of rough time overseas recently, many players do. He's still awesome though.

No featured comments at the moment.

Buggsy
on November 22, 2012, 8:08 GMT

So Sehwag has had a bit of rough time overseas recently, many players do. He's still awesome though.

on November 22, 2012, 8:14 GMT

He is a True legend.Sometimes Stats can be only numbers but a True sports man can be remembered for ever!!!!

SaurabhDutt
on November 22, 2012, 8:14 GMT

He just started it in test cricket.Prior to him there were Viv Richards,Afridis,Jayasuryas in shorter format.But,still he is most consistent with this art.He is a true entertainer.After Sachin, Indian crowds cheer his appearence the most.

ramli
on November 22, 2012, 8:17 GMT

True ... the impact of his contribution on the team's result is phenomenal ... whenever he bats well, India ends doing well ... we can choose to remember only the good ones ... but ... more than his failures on the ground, it is his faking the fitness level prior to T20I in 2009 that caused untold misery to team prospects and his preference of IPL over country duty will always remain as black mark whenever he ends his career

Chaitanya82
on November 22, 2012, 8:19 GMT

Viru is one batsman who doesn't care who the opposition is, what the pitch conditions are and most importantly creates this fear factor for the opposition as he is one of the few players in test cricket who can change the situation of the game at any moment in short time...All the best Viru, hope you entertain the crowds as you have always done and make a 100 in your 100th test match like you made one on your debut.

on November 22, 2012, 8:20 GMT

I recommended this article after reading the first line! :)

on November 22, 2012, 8:28 GMT

Amazing first line is enough to describe Sehwag's greatness as a modern day hard hitting batsman!!

Nivas_Shanmugam
on November 22, 2012, 8:33 GMT

He is Brave man... He never afraid about bowlers..Even he is World No.1... That is the Big Big Positive attitude of him...:)

sanjaycrickfan
on November 22, 2012, 8:36 GMT

Sehwag is fantastic in the sub continent and also overseas where there is bounce. Its seam movement and swing that he has a problem against because he doesnt have experience playing in those conditions.

If Indian players can take some time off to play some county cricket every year, then that will be helpful in making them all round batsmen who can play well in all conditions. In exchange, India should also allow players from England, SA, Aus to play in Ranji trophy so they get used to our conditions. It will make for better contests than one sided games where home team always wins.

on November 22, 2012, 8:46 GMT

he is the best to watch when he is in true color. England must be worried about his return form in this series and if they allow him for the 1st session at Wankade than there will be another ton coming up! good luck Viru!!!!!!